Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-01
MRS. BERTHA ANDERSON,
SHE Is PROBABLY NOT INSANE But
NEEDS REST.

Husband-A Home that Was q He'll
Etc.
Since Mrs. Bertha Anderson, of
Bellevue, was found insane by a jury
in Probate Judge Lemmon's court,
there has been considerable talk in
town over the matter, and several per-
sons appealed to the TIMES reporter
to denounce the whole transaction as
q crying shame. The TIMES, after
some investigation, had about con.
cluded to do so, to call on the Dis
trict Attorney to take immediate steps
to have the woman liberated, and pos.
sibly, to have Anderson, the uufortu.
nate woman's husband, arrested on
charge of perjury. An article taking
that view of the case, written after In.
terviewing some of the jurymen, a
few old acquaintances of Mrs. Ander-
son, and Others, had been prepared
and was being put in type when
luckily Constable Tatro called at the
TIMES Office, this afternoon, in CON-
pany with Leon Fuld, who is an old
friend of Mrs. Anderson's, and was
also one Of the jurymen who declared
her insane.
Mr. Tatro said, in substance, that
ne had just returned from Blackfoot,
where he delivered James Gillespie
and Bertha Anderson at the Insane
Asylum. Gillespie was very quiet
and rational. His insanity is evi.
IDENTITY not continuous. That is to
say, it only comes on by spells.
Mrs. Anderson, Mr.. Tatro says,
was very quiet, rational, and well-be
haved She spoke freely about the
trouble on the wsy down, and her
language breathed naught but devo-
ton for her husband. She begged
Mr.. Tatro not to leave her alone for
moment on the trip, aud before re ach-
ing Blackfoot told him that she was
incapable of performing
marital duties. She also said, refer
ring to Bellevue physician: "You
tell that doctor that there is nothing
the matter with my blood. l am not
crazy, but heartbroken. l am gong
to get good rest here (waving her
hand toward the Asylum and good
treatment, and will recover my
strength and be all right soon.''
When the physician at the Asylum
was about to inscribe her name in the
register she said: 81 don't want no
false name to 60 in there. My name
is Bertha Anderson"
Constable Tatro says that she is
perfectly sane, and that all she needs
is rest.
Mr.. Fuld is of the same opinion,
and says that that was the motive
that controlled the jury. This may
therefore be regarded as conclusive.
The facts in the case are, however,
OF some interest, especially in view of
the exaggerated statements to which
they have given rise. The TIMES
therefore states them briefly, as fol-
lows, leaving every one to form his
or her own conclusions:
The Andersons have been living in
Bellevue about FIVE years. They
seemed to be in constant turmoil.
was heavy drinker and
frequently, when in his cups, must
have beaten his wife, as the neigh.
bors frequently rushed in in answer to
her heart-rending cries for "help!"
But at such times she would always
stand by her husband and defend |
him; and although she had evidently
just received trouncing, would say /
that it was all her fault, etc. The
man was frequently arrested for
and on charges of dis
the peace; and on one &C.
casion, recently, he was fined 500
which he paid. The neighbors final
ly endeavored to get rid of them, and
offered them 5000 more for their real
property than it was worth. But they
refused to sell. A few days ago,
while Mrs. Anderson was ironing at
home, the Constable of Bellevue call
ed on her, read her a warrant of ar
rest, and brought her to Haley. Mrs.
Anderson is weak, pale, emaciated |
little woman; and she said not a word,
but came on. The first thing she did
was to send for her "dear" husband.